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Research

Deciphering the Immunological Phenomenon of Adaptive Natural Killer (NK) Cells and Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Natural killer (NK) cells play a significant and vital role in the first line of defense against infection through their ability to target cells without prior sensitization. They also contribute significantly to the activation and recruitment of both innate and adaptive immune cells through the production of a range of cytokines and chemokines. In the context of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, NK cells and CMV have co-evolved side by side to employ several mechanisms to evade one another.

Research

Tumour draining lymph node-generated CD8 T cells play a role in controlling lung metastases after a primary tumour is removed but not when adjuvant immunotherapy is used

Surgical resection of cancer remains the frontline therapy for millions of patients annually, but post-operative recurrence is common, with a relapse rate of around 45% for non-small cell lung cancer. The tumour draining lymph nodes (dLN) are resected at the time of surgery for staging purposes, and this cannot be a null event for patient survival and future response to immune checkpoint blockade treatment. This project investigates cancer surgery, lymphadenectomy, onset of metastatic disease, and response to immunotherapy in a novel model that closely reflects the clinical setting. In a murine metastatic lung cancer model, primary subcutaneous tumours were resected with associated dLNs remaining intact, completely resected or partially resected.

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Whole genome and biomarker analysis of patients with recurrent glioblastoma on bevacizumab: A subset analysis of the CABARET trial.

Whole genome sequencing of poor and exceptional survivors identified a gain in Chromosome 19 that was exclusive to the exceptional survivors

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Skin tumor immunity: Site does matter for antigen presentation by DCs

Timely mobilization of tumor antigen-bearing dendritic cells (DCs) from the periphery to the lymph nodes is critical for effective antitumor T-cell immunity

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Dietary Vitamin D Increases Percentages and Function of Regulatory T Cells in the Skin-Draining Lymph Nodes and Suppresses Dermal Inflammation

Dietary vitamin D3 increased the suppressive activity of regulatory T cells in the skin-draining lymph nodes, which are poised to suppress dermal inflammation

Research

Determining whether ion-channels influence the response to brain cancer therapeutics

Terrance Brittany Johns Dewdney BSc, MBSc, PhD Honorary Research Associate Postdoctoral Researcher brittany.dewdney@thekids.org.au Honorary Research

Research

The role of voltage-gated sodium channels in high grade glioma

Every year, around 1,500 Australians are diagnosed with brain cancer, and many of them die due to a lack of effective treatments.

Research

Altered immunity and dendritic cell activity in the periphery of mice after long-term engraftment with bone marrow from ultraviolet-irradiated mice

To investigate the immune capabilities of peripheral tissue DCs generated in vivo from the BM of UV-irradiated mice, chimeric mice were established.

Research

Mixed Proteasomes Function To Increase Viral Peptide Diversity and Broaden Antiviral CD8+ T Cell Responses

Many proteasomes expressed by normal cells and cells exposed to cytokines are "mixed", that is, contain both standard and immunoproteasome subunits.